MindHack Digest: How to See your Problems more Objectively
Happy Memorial Day!
We can familiarize ourselves with the will of nature by calling to mind our common experiences. When a friend breaks a glass, we are quick to say, ‘Oh, bad luck.’ It’s only reasonable, then, that when a glass of your own breaks, you accept it in the same patient spirit. Moving on to graver things: when somebody’s wife or child dies, to a man we all routinely say, ‘Well, that’s part of life.’ But if one of our own family is involved, then right away it’s ‘Poor, poor me!’ We would do better to remember how we react when a similar loss afflicts others. (Epictetus - Enchiridion XXVI)
If you hear that your neighbor has a busted water heater, do you sympathetically worry that he will go broke dealing with it? Most likely, you take it with a shrug and figure he’ll work it out with no significant impact on his lifestyle. But at your own house, the possibility of a significant home repair bill is cause for great concern. Is it because your neighbor is more capable than you?
It’s natural, but not reasonable, to feel like your challenges are of greater importance than those encountered by others. They’re simply closer. To get a more objective perspective, it’s often helpful to take a step back and view your obstacles as if you were a disinterested, but sympathetic, 3rd party. Would someone in that role be concerned for you? Or would they see the situation as one of the sort that people encounter daily, and daily navigate without injury?
- Cody
Coolest Finds of the Week
The One-Touch Guide to Doing a Weekly Review: How I Go From Chaos to Clarity in 30 Minutes
(10m Read) A weekly review has been the ballast of my workflow for over a decade now. David Allen calls them the “master key” to personal productivity, but it’s very difficult to just sit down and reflect on your life. I always learn a ton from Tiago’s detailed posts and am adding two things to my own review process: scanning my calendar backwards (to identify any follow-ups) and clearing out my downloads and desktops, Marie Kondo-style.
100 Things to Do After Quarantine Scratch Poster
We know that after a few weeks of “normality” we’ll slowly drift back into our old habits: getting up late, binge-watching Netflix shows, farting about on our phones for hours on end. We need something to keep up the momentum, keep us inspired – we all need… the 100 Things to Do After Quarantine Scratch Poster.
Plot Twist: The Key to Better Sleep Is Not a Bedtime
(4m Read) Set multiple alarms. With that in mind, we asked Breus to walk us through the ways we can set our internal clock to consistent wake-up time. Read on for his advice.
The End of Plastic? New Plant-Based Bottles Will Degrade in a Year
(5m Read) Carlsberg and Coca-Cola back pioneering project to make ‘all-plant’ drinks bottles
How to Avoid Eating All Day While Coronavirus Keeps Us Working From Home
(5m Read) Social distancing could keep many people indoors for weeks with kitchens stockpiled with food. Nutritionists offer advice on how to cook, snack and shop smarter.
What Happens When Your Career Becomes Your Whole Identity
(6m Read) Don’t let the weight of your job squash your sense of self.
Why I Don’t Believe In Work-Life Balance
(8m Read) There’s work, promotions, goals, making money on one side of the equation. And on the other side, there’s health, family, friends, holidays, you name it. When we talk about work–life balance, we talk…
Three Theories for Why You Have No Time
(5m Read) Better technology means higher expectations, and higher expectations create more work.
By Cody McLain
Get a head-start to your week with the latest news and articles involving Productivity, Business, Science, Psychology Technology and more. Cody is a successful serial entrepreneur who creates and shares content around helping you live a more successful and meaningful life.
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